Otto Wilhelm Kron, born in Speyer in the Rheinpfalz in 1911, was the son a police official. He was among the first to join both the Allgemeine-SS (SS #31.441), and the NSDAP, in 1933. From 1933 to 1936, Kron served as an enlisted man and a guard with the SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 1 “Oberbayern” stationed at Dachau. He was then promoted to officer and sent to SS-Junkerschule Bad Tolz. We look at his Mauser HSc. Otto Kron’s WWII Mauser HSc Otto Kron’s promotion to SS Untersturmfuhrer (2nd lieutenant) in 1936 sent him back to Dachau, where he served until 1938. He then went to the Anschluss of Austria-Sudenland. He received medals both for the promotion to SS Hochsturmfuhrer and for the two medals. In 1940, he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class for his role in the Battle of France. In 1941, Kron took part in Operation Barbarossa. He received the Iron Cross 1st Class as well as the Eastern Front Medal. In 1942, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross for his command of the 3rd SS Flak Battalion. He had been promoted to SS Sturmbannfuhrer. In 1943, Otto Kron assumed command of the 3rd SS Reconnaissance Battalion (SS Totenkopf). He suffered a severe injury during the Battle of Kharkov. He served the rest of World War II with a shortened and stiff leg. In 1944 he was promoted from SS-Obersturmfuhrer to Lieutenant Colonel. Colonel). Otto Wilhelm Kron handed over his command in June 1945 to U.S. Army troops in Austria. After the war he created a program for World War II German Veterans to return to civil society. But due to his pre-war service with the SS-Totenkopf-Standarte 1 ‘Oberbayern,’ he faced several war crimes trials held at Dachau during the 1950s. He died in 1951 from an incurable larynx disease that was discovered suddenly during his trials. During Kron’s surrender in June he handed over a number his possessions to U.S. Army TS/5 Dwayne S. Stockwell. The 37751113 includes Kron’s issued officer’s tunic and pistol belt. It also contains three pistols. The pistols are a German Luger 9mm, serial #8626, a Browning 6.35mm Serial 275483 and an “Ornate 765mm Mauser Serial 823239. This is the pistol that we are looking at. Mauser HSc This Model HSc 7.65mm Mauser #823239 is a 1942 Model. It has a 100 percent engraving of a typical German “oak/acorn pattern” along with a hand engraved date 28.6.42. The date is located above the serial number of the front strap. This is the date that he received the Knight’s Cross for Operation Barbarossa. Above this date, oak leaves engraved with a silver inlay surround the Knight’s Cross. On the pistol’s rearstrap, an angled banner hand is engraved with “OW” above Kron. Two inlaid runes are also surrounded by oak leafs on the rear of slide. The MAUSER banner is engraved around the front/left side of the slide. This banner is also found on the bottom of the magazine which appears unused. The only other marks are a tiny engraved eagle over an “N” on the triggerguard and a “K”, in the middle of the engraving. The pistol has a 97 percent overall condition with only a few minor handling marks on the magazine plate and grips. Kron probably carried the 9mm Luger above in a belt holster into battle. The Mauser was kept safe. The Mauser HSc Guns by the Numbers Circa WWII: 251,939 Post War, 19,300 1960s-1970s: 63118 Total production, 334,357 Specs: Caliber:.32 (7.65x17mm), eight roundsCapacity: 8+1 (7.65x17mm); 7+1 (.380 ACP–1960s-1970s)
Weight: 1.9 ounces
Overall length: 6 Inches
Barrel: 3.4 inch This article was first published in the Combat Handguns issue of July/August 2022. Subscription is available in print and digital editions at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Or call 1-800-284-5668, or email [email protected]. Continue Reading Didn’t get what you were looking? Search The post History of the Mauser HSc recovered after a war criminal’s capture appeared first on Personal Defense World.
